Hollister’s Farmers Market was busier and more profitable than
last year, which many local farmers credit to better organization
by the Hollister Downtown Association.
Hollister – Hollister’s Farmers Market was busier and more profitable than last year, which many local farmers credit to better organization by the Hollister Downtown Association.
The last market of the year will be held tomorrow, starting at 3pm, at the corner of San Benito and Fourth streets in downtown Hollister. Market Manager Diana Thorson said the weekly Farmers Markets went well this year.
“It was great. (The market) was much busier than last year,” Thorson said. “The word is out so lots of people are coming.”
When running at full-capacity, 26 farmers and merchants pack the crowded event area to sell their produce, food, wine and other goods. Thorson said the fee for booths stayed the same as last year, but because there were more farmers this year, the Hollister Downtown Association, which organizes the event, was able to bring in more revenue. The Hollister Downtown Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing the downtown district to be the hub of the community.
“We have a lot more farmers this year and everybody seems really happy,” Thorson said.
Merchants like Mike Mansmith, owner of Mansmith’s Barbecue, agreed.
Mansmith’s Barbecue started 15 years ago at the Farmers Market but hasn’t participated in the weekly markets for several years, Mansmith said. However, this year Mansmith was glad he took part.
“I thought it went really well,” Mansmith said. “The location is better and Diana (Thorson) has it better organized than in the past.” Last year the market was located along East Street between Fifth and Seventh streets.
And, as always, the tri-tip was his most popular item among market customers, Mansmith said.
Fisherman Joe Aliotti agreed. Aliotti, owner of Papa Joe’s Fresh Fish, said the Farmers Market was successful, in part, because it provides consumers with an alternative to grocery stores – which don’t sell locally grown food and produce. Aliotti was pleased with market this year and plans to come back again next summer.
“It’s word of mouth that brings more people, and that is what happened this year,” Aliotti said. “I think it will be even better next year.”
Tomatoes were a big hit at the Farmers Market this year, said Bonnie Swank of Swank Farms. Like many others, Swank reported increased profits this year compared to prior years, which she credited to a balanced market of local and nearby farmers.
“You can’t have a good, balanced farmers market with only local farmers,” she said. “You need a balance to maintain variety.”
Swank Farms frequents many Farmers Markets in the counties surrounding Hollister and has done so for many years. This year the markets were held every Wednesday from May to August, instead of from June to September, a move Swank and many others said was beneficial because September is often a very slow sales month.
On Wednesday at 4pm, during the final market, the Hollister Downtown association will hold a free raffle. The raffle winner will receive a “big bag of stuff” to which each farmer and merchant will contribute something, Thorson said. The raffle was designed to encourage more customers to come to the final event and also to celebrate the good season, she said.
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
